The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

420 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [APPENDIX.
my former passion for your Lowland beauty; whereas, were I to live
more retired from young women, I might in some measure alleviate
my sorrow, by burying that chaste and troublesome passion in oblivion; and I am very well assured, that this will be the only antidote
or remedy."
The desponding tone of this letter is reiterated in others. How
long the tender sentiment had possession of his heart, or whether he
ever had the courage to explain himself to the young lady, is not ascertained. For three years he was occupied nearly all the time,
when the season would permit, in surveying wild lands among the
Allegany mountains in Virginia, and on the various southern
branches of the Potomac River. His mode of life in this occupation
may be understood from the above extracts from his journal. It was
exposed to peculiar hardships and privations, with none of the refinements or comforts of civilization. The country was an entire wilderness. The fatigue and endurance were such, that he was rarely out
but a few weeks at a time. His home was with his brother, Lawrence
Washington; at Mount Vernon, though he passed portions of his time
with his mother at Fredericksburg.
The following letter, dated the 5th of May, 1749, was written to
his brother Lawrence, then in Williamsburg, probably attending as a
member of the House of Burgesses, as it is known, that he was a
delegate for that year.
" DEAR BROTHER,
"I hope your cough is much mended since I saw you last. If so,
I trust you have given over all thoughts of leaving Virginia. As
there is not an absolute occasion of my coming down, I hope you
will get the deeds acknowledged without me. My horse is in very
poor order to undertake such a journey, and is in no likelihood of
mending, for want of corn sufficient to support him; though if there
be any certainty of the Assembly's not rising until the latter end of
May, I will, if I can, be down by that time.
" As my mother's term of years is out at the place at Bridge Creek,
she designs to settle a quarter * on the piece at Deep Run, but seems
backward in doing it, till the right is made good, for fear of accident.
It is reported here, that Mr. Spotswood intends to put down the ferry
at the wharf where he now lives, and that Major Francis Taliaferro
intends to petition the Assembly to have it kept from his house over
against my mother's quarter, and through the very heart and best of
the land. Whereas he can have no other view in it, than for the
* Place of residence for the families of negro laborers.